26 march 2011, let’s ignore the rise of the right

Fear is rising that a new wave of far-right parties seems to be breaking on europe's shores. In france, ever the leader, the national front's next generation le pen looks increasingly serious about a rerun of the 2002 presidential election, where it came second; the same placing as austria's freedom party, which has survived well the bizarre death of its last leader. Late to the party but now constant is holland, where geert wilders too lies second, all but part of government; and I have written before (12 april 2010) of the chilling rise in hungary of jobbik, to which we can now add a parallel story in its linguistic cousin, the true finns, who may yet join government. Denmark's far right has already been propping up government for a decade, and there are stories to tell elsewhere, including sweden, switzerland and slovakia. In some cases, like belgium (see 19 september 2011), local factors are relevant (feeding on the pointlessness of the federal state), but in all two factors seem strongest: anti-europeanism, and immigration, especially islamic. In britain (not without its issues, see 12 january 2010), this splits neatly into two parties, ukip and the national front. Sustained immigration in an era of depression brings conditions reminiscent of the 1920s, and the elitist edifice of the eu is easily portrayed as powerful accomplice, feeding immigration through open borders and labour market freedoms. History teaches us to pay attention to these seismic shifts, especially as economic uncertainty and widening inequalities are going to be an enduring feature of our lifetimes in europe. How can we help ? On the front line. The jews became the bogey then; muslims, roma and others today: read the new jews. Suspicion is not a far-right monopoly; everyone has moments when they are wary, when they understand. The urge to protect one's own is overwhelming; strange clothing, isolationism, jealousy all breed distrust. Many easily see things as us and them, with live and let live becoming an alibi for inaction. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.